Many people don’t think of alcohol as a drug. But consider this: drugs can affect the way you think, act and feel. Some drugs
change your mood, and some are painkillers. Alcohol does all of these things, so it is a drug.

The same amount of alcohol affects a woman more than a man. This is because women have less water in their bodies than men.
So alcohol is less watered down in women’s bodies. Alcohol also does more physical damage to women more quickly than it does
to men.

Over time, too much alcohol can cause serious health problems, such as damage to your liver, heart, stomach and brain. Heavy
drinking may also increase the risk of menstrual problems and some forms of cancer.

You are more likely to develop serious health problems if you also smoke cigarettes.